(Sometimes humorous,sometimes provocative, Fodder is a recurring online Press-Register feature that spotlights water cooler discussion topics of regional or national interest. Read more Fodder here.)

View full sizeBig Al appears in a still frame from a video made during his appearance on the Rick and Bubba radio show. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide mascot clocked a faster 40-yard time than any other mascot appearing on the show.

The races are run and the verdict is in: The University of Alabama has the faster mascot.

In case you missed it, Big Al, the Crimson Tide elephant, clocked a 5.3 in the 40-yard dash during an appearance on the syndicated and yet oh so homegrown Rick and Bubba radio show.

When he wasn't stopping for peanuts, Big Al looked like he was running from an Auburn store.

Aubie, the Auburn University tiger, came in two clicks slower, with a time of 5.5.

What's puzzling the Fodder is how a cat can lose to an elephant, what with all that much less costume to wear. You can analyze their performances yourself in the videos below.

Meanwhile, Ron Morris, a sports columnist for The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina this week ranked the SEC stadiums and Auburn's came out on top in terms of difficulty for visiting teams.

"No stadium is louder than Jordan-Hare, which holds the noise because of its bowl shape," Morris wrote. "The gates open two hours before kickoff for students, and every seat is quickly filled. These folks even cheer when the Auburn band enters the field. Auburn games are all about the football, nothing else.

"You get the impression these 87,000 fans live 365 days a year for the seven afternoons or evenings they spend rooting for their beloved Tigers and intimidating the heck out of opponents."

Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium came in fourth in Morris' figuring: "Despite its glorious history, the stadium is very nondescript. Plain and simple, all Alabama does in this place is line up and offer a beat-down to all visitors."

What SEC stadium came in last? You may have guessed it. Vanderbilt, which Morris said belongs in the ACC, not the SEC. Read the complete column here.

Speaking of competition, while Gus Malzahn looks to condition Aubie, a group of Auburn University pharmacy students are looking to compete later this month in the championship of the annual student business plan competition sponsored by the National Community Pharmacists Association.

These are those same wild and crazy pharmacy students who brought you that whacky Aubie video we told you about sometime back.

Auburn's Harrison School of Pharmacy team will compete against teams from the Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Washington State University College of Pharmacy.

The competition started with a record 35 teams this year and the finals round involves a live presentation before a panel of judges at the NCPA annual meeting Oct. 23 in Philadelphia.

Before you write this off as some big placebo, consider this: Not only do the students get their way paid to the Oct. 23 meeting, they get $3,000 for themselves and $3,000 for the school if they win and $1,000 even if they finish third.